Asian Material Culture

This exciting, richly illustrated volume gives the reader a unique insight into the materiality of Asian cultures and the ways in which objects and practices can simultaneously embody and exhibit aesthetic and functional characteristics, everyday and spiritual aspirations. Material culture is examined from a variety of perspectives and the authors rigorously investigate the creation and meaning of material object, and their associated practices within the context of time and place. All chapters in this volume are representative, rather than exhaustive, in their portrayal of Asian material culture. Nevertheless, they clearly demonstrate that the objects, seen as material evidence of culture, are entities that resonate with discourses of human relationships, personal and group identity formation, ethics and values, histories, determination of ethnicity, local and international trade, consumption and above all distinctive futures.

Marianne Hulsbosch is senior lecturer and Course Director of Visual Arts and Design Education at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, Australia.

Elizabeth Bedford is an independent scholar and has lectured at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Sydney, Australia.

Martha Chaiklin is assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of Pittsburgh.